The 10 Longest-Lasting Cars on The Road

With the recent news that 32 percent of all car buyers in America these days are making their purchases with 72-month loans, the fact that many a vehicle made today can be expected to still be performing well at six years old is reassuring. Looking into vehicle dependability, Forbes, a publication that knows a thing or two about money and quality, has kicked the tires, read the repair and maintenance reports, and conversed with the learned minds at J.D. Power and Associates in order to identify ten vehicles that you can bet will last you at least 250,000 miles. When it comes to which cars last longest, these are the cream of the crop.

Cars Becoming More Dependable

Talking about the overall trend of vehicles becoming more and more dependable, David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates, said, “Owners who keep their vehicles beyond the manufacturer’s warranty period are able to have greater peace of mind that vehicles are becoming increasingly more dependable.” In fact, by some estimations, the average car in America is 11+ years old, with 165,000 miles on it!

The 10 Best High-Mileage Cars

The 10 vehicles that last longest with proper care are:

The Acura RDX is on the list for its initial quality and mechanical reliability along with the above-average durability ratings from Consumer Reports.

The Chevrolet Avalanche, a pickup truck and full-size SUV combination powered by a hefty V8, receives good marks from Consumer Reports and Forbes. Sadly, it is being discontinued after this model year.

The V6-powered Honda Ridgeline is more for active families than it is a work truck.

Lexus RX 350 is a midsize luxury crossover SUV that has been well received by critics and drivers alike.

The tiny Mazda MX-5 Miata is a fun ride that can last as long as you do not mind climbing in and out of such a low-slung roadster.

The so-ugly-it-is-beautiful Scion xB continues to sell well for good reason; it’s a dependable ride with plenty of cargo capacity.

The subcompact Scion xD hatchback is on the list for the same reasons that its uglier, older cousin is.

The Toyota 4Runner is a midsize SUV that has built a strong reputation of being a tough vehicle that performs as strongly off-road as it does on the pavement.

The smallish Toyota RAV4 crossover is just the ride for a young family.

The Toyota Yaris is a subcompact that can be had as either a two- or a four-door hatchback. It’s simple approach to the road gives it less opportunity to go bad.

Now playing the role of grumpy old man in the foothills of Northern California’s Gold Country, Andrew has had a life-long love affair with vehicles of all sorts, from the bicycle he pedaled across the continent in 1991 to the armored personnel carriers he drove in the Army to the bamboo rafts, elephants, motorcycle taxis, ferries and buses he traveled by during the 13 years he lived and worked in South East Asia. Always eager to learn more about how the people of the world get from here to there in their day-today lives, he, a professional journalist, has been covering the vehicle industry for years.